Douzelage Youth Study Visit 2008 - Draft Final Report

The Future for Douzelage Member Towns Sherborne Douzelage Youth Study Visit 16-18 October 2008

Final Report Supported by

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Acknowledgements The Sherborne Douzelage team who conceived of, prepared and managed this Study Visit, wish to thank the President of International Douzelage, Mr Ed Weber, for his support and encouragement; Mr Tom Corban and his team in Dorset County Council's Youth Services, particularly Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre (known as Tinneys) for their partnership and enthusiasm in preparing and presenting their work; the British Council for having confidence in our project and agreeing Youth In Action funding; the leadership at The RendezVous Centre for their presentation and, last but by no means least, the participants who travelled to Sherborne from all corners of Europe to join in an open, constructive and wide ranging exchange of ideas and debate.

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Contents: Page No 1.0 2.0

Executive Summary

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1.1

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Next Steps and Further Information

Background

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2.1 2.2 2.3

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About Douzelage Project Development Funding Partners

3.0

Aims and Objectives

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4.0

The Study Visit

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4.1 4.2

The Delegates The Programme

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Experience and Findings

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5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5

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5.0

Youth Provision and Funding Support Healthy Lifestyles Retention of Young People Youth Justice Young Peoples' Voices

6.0

Best Practice - Sherborne & UK

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7.0

Feedback

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8.0

Conclusions and Recommendations

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8.1 8.2 8.3

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Aims and Outcomes Key Challenges Positive Solutions

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1.0

Executive Summary

The study visit highlighted the difference in provision across towns; in the facilities, services and guidance available to young people, as well as the political and financial support provided to local youth workers to develop such provision.

This report concludes the project 'Young Euro Citzens: The Future for Douzelage Member Towns', organised and hosted by Sherborne Douzelage Committee during October 2008 and supported by European Youth in Action funding, Action 4 Youth Support Systems: Training and Networking. The Study Visit brought together 28 delegates from 14 European countries to explore youth work policies and practice in the Douzelage member towns. UK policy and local delivery models in Sherborne were presented as the basis for comparison. By means of presentations, workshops and plenary sessions, delegates explored the varying approaches to: Youth provision and funding support, healthy lifestyles, retention of ‘Young People’, youth justice and young peoples’ voices in each town, in particular the ability of young people to influence the political decisions that affect them most.

The importance of building positive local partnerships across key public, private and voluntary sector organisations was recognised, while investing in and empowering young people to take control of their futures and influence those organisations designed to meet their needs, ensures that the delivery vehicles and outcomes are both effective and sustainable. The study visit sparked enthusiasm and a determination to work together to support the development of these effective, sustainable structures and activities across our Douzelage towns.

It was widely accepted that, in the five areas explored, the approaches adopted in Sherborne, Dorset and the UK to provide for and involve young people were examples of good practice, much of which could be replicated across Douzelage towns to ensure a consistent level of provision for our young people.

The key challenges, recommendations and outcomes of the study visit can be found in Section 8.0 Conclusions and Recommendations.

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1.1

Next Steps and Further Information

• • • • • • •

The aspiration is for future study visits to be held in other Douzelage towns in order to further share learning, promote best practice and lobby for improvements in those areas that contribute to the sustainable development of Douzelage towns and enhance the basic level of services and facilities available to young people throughout Europe.

Copy of attendee list (S) Programme (S) Presentations from Tom Corban, etc (S) Completed Town questionnaires (?) Newsletters (D) Application to British Council (S) Feedback table (S)

For more information about the work of International Douzelage, to contact the committee, or find out how to get involved, please visit the website: www.douzelage.org.

The following documents, relating to Sherborne's Youth Study Visit and referenced throughout this report, can be viewed at www.douzelage.org (D) or www.pdfcoke.com *(S):

*To browse documents on Scribd, enter the Username: Douzelage and Password: since1991

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2.0 Background 2.1 About Douzelage Douzelage is a name created by combining the French words douze for twelve – the number of EU states when formed – and jumelage for twinning. The Douzelage movement was conceived in 1989 by the Sherborne/Granville Twinning Association. Its Charter was signed in Granville in 1991 and the movement received pan-European recognition with the award of a Twinning Gold Star by the European Commission in 1993. Douzelage is a non-profit-making organisation that brings together one small town from each European Union member country to foster opportunity and friendship amongst all the people of the member towns. Cultural, educational and sporting exchanges lie at its heart, as well as potential for commercial and tourism initiatives.

As the EU expands, so new members towns are invited to join Douzelage. In June 2009, membership stands at 23 countries.

The main beneficiaries of Douzelage have been youth, with cultural visits and exchanges arranged through schools and clubs, covering a wide range of activities. Local cultural, sporting, business and community organisations also foster exchanges.

Asides from participation in projects, towns meet twice a year at Douzelage conferences, hosted by one of the member towns.

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Committee to take forward the organisation of this first event and liaised closely with Dorset County Youth Services and local providers to develop and deliver a varied and informative programme. The Committee were: Janet Parsons, Michael Morrell, Michael Peart, Moira Western and Natalie House.

2.2 Project development International Douzelage has, in recent years, been increasing its focus on the active participation of young people in its organisation and membership, rather than being solely the participants and recipients of organised activities. Douzelage recognises and values their contribution to the organisation, the sustainability of which depends upon it.

The Organising Committee produced regular newsletters outlining the project proposal and inviting Douzelage towns to participate in the three day study visit (Copies of these are available at www.douzelage.org).

Having worked on behalf of young people since its inception, International Douzelage seeks to raise awareness of the opportunities that Europe presents as well as encourage the involvement of young people in local democracy, influencing the priorities and civic processes within Partner Towns.

The Committee also circulated a summary paper; outlining the key local, regional and national youth policies that provide the framework for youth work in the UK and invited towns to complete a questionnaire prior to the visit, providing details of the policies and voluntary organisations delivering in their countries. A copy of this summary paper can be found at www.douzelage.org.

Koszeg was the first Douzelage town to invite young people to attend its meeting of International Douzelage, followed by Sherborne in 2006, where young peoples' workshops were held in parallel to the Annual Business Meeting of International Douzelage. At this meeting it was resolved to implement a Youth Project involving young people who would identify the key challenges and problems they face in their societies. It was agreed that a series of study visits would support this aim, exploring innovative approaches and best practice across partner towns and producing a report that would help wider dissemination of learning. Sherborne Douzelage established an organising

2.3 Funding Partners With a firm commitment from partners, the Organising Committee made a successful bid to the British Council; the UK funding agency for the EU Youth in Action Programme. The study visit was made possible with a generous grant of €14,769 under Action 4 - Youth Support Systems: Training and Networking. Invaluable in-kind

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• To draw attention to the key challenges facing young people in the 5 theme areas • To encourage delegates from partner towns to exchange knowledge and information and to share models of good practice in youth provision in their communities • To ensure that equal opportunities are given to the youth delegates and experts to make a contribution • To develop conclusions, which represent ideas and possible solutions to ensure the participation of young people in developing policies and services in their towns • To identify and secure agreement of two or three delegates from partner towns to contribute towards the production if the final report

support (staff-time) was offered by Dorset County Council.

3.0 Aims and Objectives The overall aim of the study visit was to bring together young people and 'experts' from Douzelage towns to discuss youth policies and identify best practice; following the proposal launched at the Sherborne Douzelage Conference in October 2006 for Douzelage to host a series of youth-focused conference. Further aims were: • To organise and host a Study Visit that was within budget while being challenging, informative and enjoyable for all participants • To stretch the capacity of Douzelage to produce work that adds substantial value to the present benefits of membership of the organisation and to demonstrate to local authorities and the EU the growing value of the organisation • To give visiting delegations a broad and enjoyable social experience • To raise the profile of Sherborne Douzelage within the town and in Dorset

The intention is that other Douzelage towns will host similar study visits in the coming years; focusing on some of the themes and issues arising from discussions prior to and during the initial study visit. For example: • Youth and employment, • Affordable housing • Transport and communication It is hoped that UK experts and young people from Sherborne will have an opportunity to visit other European Towns, to compare approaches and consider ways in which UK or local policies and activities can be adapted and improved, based upon the good practice examples showcased during future study visits.

Objectives:

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The topics were addressed using a combination of presentations, theme stations, plenary sessions and information stands, held in a variety of related venues. Delegates were provided with cultural and practical opportunities to learn more about Sherborne and Dorset as a location and the benefits and challenges of living in this particular rural community.

4.0 The Study Visit The study visit took place over three days between 16 and 19 October 2008. Delegates explored the issues faced by young people and the authorities and institutions catering for young people in Douzelage Towns. The particular areas of youth work examined during the Study Visit were as follows: • Youth provision and funding support • Healthy lifestyles • Retention of Young People in our Towns • Youth Justice • Young Peoples’ Voices

4.1 The Delegates Sherborne Douzelage defined the qualities required in delegates in it's first Newsletter to potential partner towns: 'The first person should be a Youth Worker who knows about the youth issues in their town and is aware of local and national government policies concerning youth issues. We intend the Study Visit to be an exchange of experiences and ideas. As well as showing you what we are doing here, we want to hear about your youth issues. ' 'The second person should be a young person (18-25 years) with an interest in the subject. Ideally they should have been involved with youth clubs or societies in their town or be part of a group that has looked at the problems of young people. We want to combine the professional views of youth workers with the direct experience of young people themselves.'

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In total 28 delegates from 14 towns of International Douzelage participated in the study visit. The towns represented were: Bad Kotzting – Germany, Bundoran – Ireland, Chojna Poland, Houffalize – Belgium, Koszeg – Hungary, Meerssen – Netherlands, Niederanven – Luxembourg, Oxelosund – Sweden, Prienai – Lithuania, Sherborne – UK, Sigulda – Latvia, Susice - Czech Republic, Turi Estonia and Zvolen – Slovakia. In each case one 'expert' and one ' young person' attended and contributed actively to all aspects of the busy programme. A full list of delegates is available at www.pdfcoke.com (see Executive Summary for access information). The Sherborne Douzelage Committee made arrangements for all delegates to stay in local Bed and Breakfast accommodation or host families and meals and visits were included as part of the programme; providing ample time to develop friendships, exchange experiences and best practice in a more informal setting.

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Simon Fraiz-Brown, Democracy and Participation Worker, explained how young people are encouraged to engage with democratic processes and are actively involved in awarding funds through the Youth Opportunities Fund and finally;

4.2 The Programme A summary of the study visit's main activities is provided here. A copy of the programme provided to delegates, as well as a number of presentations, are included at www.pdfcoke.com.

Clive Hawkins, Head of the Dorset Youth Offending Team and Will Burnett, Dorset Constabulary (Police), outlined how approaches such as restorative justice and partnership working can limit the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.

Delegates arrived in Sherborne on Wednesday 15 October in readiness for the three day study visit. Day 1: Delegates travelled to Dorchester to visit a local youth and community centre, managed by Dorset County Council. Paul Carling, Chair of Douzelage's Education Committee welcomed delegates and introduced the key speakers for the day;

The focus for the afternoon was on delegate participation. An exchange of experiences and ideas was enabled through facilitated theme stations, covering each of the five themes of the conference.

Tom Corban, Head of Youth and Community Service, Dorset County Council, delivered an informative presentation outlining the overarching Government policies “Every Child Matters” and “Youth Matters”, with the motto “Something to do, somewhere to go, someone to talk to” and how these are applied locally;

Delegates contributed actively at each of the theme stations, the findings of which were reported back to the group during the plenary session. A summary of these contributions are presented in the Experience and Findings section of this report.

Hilary Cox, Deputy Leader of Dorset County Council, provided the strategic overview, presenting the long term challenges for Dorset and how this relates to youth;

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Day 2: Day 2 focused on local delivery of Government Policies and delegates were welcomed to Sherborne Area Youth Centre, Sherborne Town Council Offices and the Rendez-Vous (a charitable organisation offering a drop-in and advisory service for young people).

After lunch and some free time to explore Sherborne, delegates were received in the Council Chamber where the opportunities presented to young people by the European Lifelong Learning Programme, in particular the Leonardo Programme for students pursuing vocational training, were discussed.

Rachel Fraiz-Brown, Sherborne Area Youth Worker gave practical examples of the youth work she delivers “on the ground” in Sherborne before introducing key local delivery partners and providing delegates with the opportunity to deliver short presentations about provision in their own towns.

The Rendez-Vous Centre's Chairman John Crossman and Manager Ingrid Trill, explained how youth services in the UK can also be driven by a more local agenda, working outside of Government policies and targets to deliver informal and flexible services to young people with the help of charitable donations and fundraising to meet specific identified needs. A tour of the facilities, including a cafe area, sound recording study, health clinic and computer suite, was given.

Simon Fraiz-Brown introduced two local projects that had benefited from Youth Opportunities Fund money to develop or improve activities for young people in the area and this was followed by a presentation on how young people can become involved in local youth forums and the national youth parliament.

Day 3: The final day was the lightest of the three day programme. Delegates travelled to Woodroffe School to listen to a talk on the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Scheme in Europe by Mary Harper, Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer for Dorset. This was later followed by a guided visit to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast at Charmouth, where Anjana Khatawa explained how young people are actively involved in preserving this natural asset. The visit ended with an afternoon of fossil hunting before enjoying a buffet dinner and skittles match to conclude the Study Visit.

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The following section summarises the key issues and recommendations that were agreed under each of the themes, as well as providing a higher level overview of the challenges and opportunities for Douzelage towns in providing for their young people.

5.0 Experience and Findings

Theme Stations and Plenary Many of the experiences and ideas contributed by delegates were shared and from this there was a general consensus and group support for the positive solutions proposed during discussions at each of the theme stations. Nonetheless, some distinct variations in the level of provision for young people and the approach of local Councils to involve them in decision-making were noted. It was clear from the outset that any improvements made across Douzelage towns would come from very different starting points.

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fundraising and financial input. Government funded youth initiatives and youth workers are not always trusted however and can be perceived to be delivering their own agendas, ignoring real needs.

5.1 Youth provision and funding support Key differences and challenges: The definition of a 'young person' varies between countries and interventions ranged from 7-30 years of age. It was considered that while some countries provide too little too late, youth services in others do not provide adequate support beyond 18 and consequently are less able to recruit to peer mentoring programmes or provide sufficient guidance to young people seeking local employment, for example.

In busy tourist towns, many activities are seasonal and expensive, geared towards satisfying visitors rather than locals. Recommendations: It was agreed that young people should be involved in the design and planning of buildings and activities

Due to the size of some member towns, not all have a local youth centre, although schools and other community buildings are often made available to youth groups. Conversely, some towns have no dedicated venue for young people to meet and many young people are forced to travel to neighbouring towns for entertainment, which can be costly and impractical where there is limited transport infrastructure.

Activities should be organised and services delivered when and where young people need them most Activities and services for groups should be balanced with targeted outreach work for vulnerable individuals. Public transport should service existing provision and new activities organised when public transport can get people to and from the venue. Alternatively dedicated transport services should be provided.

While most towns benefit from a mixture of government led, school-based and voluntary sector activities, including church/faith-based, in some towns these lack coordination.

Libraries and other community buildings should be made available to young people in the evening, perhaps offering some form of late-night café.

For many youth workers, funding is predominantly received from the state, supported by limited local

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Young people should be supported to find 'acceptable' locations for their meetings/activities and start-up funding provided for new groups established by young people. In some towns the Local Authority, or families who can afford to, should subsidise activities for those who cannot, contributing to greater social cohesion and integration of all young people, irrespective of background.

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Physical Activity

5.2 Healthy Lifestyles

Access to organised activities is limited by cost and/or lack of transport. Tourist towns suffer due to the seasonality of some activities and elevated prices. While all towns benefit from some form of sports facilities, the quality and quantity varies considerably and many youngsters still rely on self-organised groups for regular physical activity Obesity is a growing problem among young people across Douzelage towns. The discussions in this theme station were divided into three key areas; physical, sexual and mental health related issues and services.

Sporting activities meet the needs of male youngsters but the options available can exclude and deter girls from participating.

The discussions highlighted good provision of sports facilities across Douzelage towns, many supported by their natural surroundings. However, it is apparent that there are extreme cultural differences in the approach to dealing with mental and sexual health issues in schools, churches, primary health care and youth service providers.

Sexual Health

Key differences and challenges:

Some towns have dedicated sexual health clinics and begin to address the subject in primary or secondary

Discussing sexual health is still taboo in many countries, while other towns take a more liberal approach to issues of sexual activity and sexual health among young people.

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schools, while the Church plays an important role in delivering sex education in other towns.

lifestyles advice and sex education should be more widely appreciated and incorporated/integrated into mainstream provision.

A 'medical' approach is often taken, which can too often focus on the biology of 'not getting pregnant', rather than on the immediate and long-term implications of sexually transmitted infections.

Case Studies Sigulda – Sigulda benefits from the existence of specialist sports schools and local olympic athletes who motivate and encourage participation in physical activity. The local Council subsidises 45% of sporting activities so that even the most exclusive centres are fully inclusive.

Mental Health The provision of services for young people with mental health issues ranges from no facilities, to drop-in centres, family centres and helplines. Schools often have links to psychologists and counselling services and act as referral agents.

Oxelosund – The key agencies in the local area work to the same set of shared aims and goals, communicating effectively with young people and enabling successful cross-referral to key sexual and mental health services. Support is provided from birth into adult life through coordinated family centres.

Recommendations: Mobile outreach projects that deliver organised activities where young people congregate, for example Street Soccer, address issues of perceived anti-social behaviour, as well as provide easy access to sporting activity.

Meerssen – The 'sex is fun' message communicated through the Month of Love sex education programme, is delivered by schools and youth centres, seeking to raise awareness and reduce the curiosity that can lead to early and under-prepared sexual encounters among young people. This approach is bold and direct, but has had positive results.

Traffic light systems and healthy food choices in schools help promote good health. The role of the Church, and other voluntary and community sector organisations, in delivering healthy

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friends go abroad for work.

5.3 Retention of Young People

The value of jobs and the attitude towards certain types of employment influences young peoples aspirations and the likelihood of them remaining in the local labour market.

Key differences and challenges: A lack of skilled, varied and well paid jobs in Douzelage towns limits opportunities to remain living locally and reduces aspirations to do so.

Recommendations:

Many young people leave towns to access Secondary and Higher Education, where higher education does exist, the course options can be limited.

The provision of affordable housing should be a priority in Douzelage towns and local housing trusts could be explored.

Young people are priced out of the local housing market and in many Douzelage towns this is fuelled by low wages, yet housing developments are often still designated for over 55s, never for the under 25s!

Investment in facilities for young people, which limit the need for travel should be made, contributing to the sustainable communities agenda.

Quiet, 'idyllic' Douzelage towns do not provide sufficient entertainment for young people and are marketed by and for the older generation.

Douzelage towns should lobby for greater Government support to provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs and local business start-ups.

Poor transport links can limit ability to access jobs and entertainment within towns or neighbouring towns.

All jobs should have equal value and apprenticeships into key service sectors should be encouraged as much as pursuing a university education.

A lack of mobility within the workforce reduces the opportunities and openings for young people to enter the labour market within Douzelage towns.

The adoption and use of technology for flexible and home working, should be promoted and enabled.

Communities such as Chojna are divided as families and

Young people should be encouraged to engage more

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with local politics to influence the policy, priorities and promotion of their town to better meet their needs. Local businesses should be supported to provide 'local jobs for local people'; identifying local skills and developing skills through new apprenticeship schemes. Where possible businesses should consider their possible role in supporting young employees into local housing. Quality work-related training and placements should be provided in local businesses for those not in education or employment (NEET). Accreditation will help access future employment opportunities.

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Recommendations:

5.4 Youth Justice

Intergenerational projects and positive Press, provide the best opportunities to dispel misconceptions about young people and can promote social cohesion. Young people are not always 'the problem' and can often be the victims.

Key differences and challenges: Delegates recognised that many of the youngsters who participate in criminal activity or are disengaged from society, originate from families with a history of criminality or social exclusion and wider family support is often key to successful re-integration.

Restorative justice is considered a more favourable approach to dealing with minor criminal offences and provides an educational experience as well as being a more effective means of reducing re-offending.

In many Douzelage towns, young peoples' relationship with the Police can be strained. Heavy-handed policing fuels mis-trust and can demonstrate a lack of understanding of the challenges facing young people in Douzelage communities.

Cooperation between the Police and local youth/social workers ensures that the underlying causes of antisocial behaviour and minor criminal offences are appreciated and dealt with in a sensitive and constructive way.

The negative perception of young people is one of the greatest challenges to overcome. The disengaged minority appear to influence communities' responses to young people as a whole.

Diversionary activities, supported by quality provision, serves to reduce the number of young people participating in less favourable past-times.

In a number of towns the lack of facilities and not having enough to do is often cited as a principle reason for young people being attracted to criminal activities.

Delegates consider some of the smaller Douzelage towns to be excellent examples of neighbourhood policing, where closer community networks of family and friends instil greater respect and discourage anti-social behaviour.

A small number of young people resort to drug and alcohol use in most Douzelage towns, but it was not felt to be a significant problem.

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5.5 Young Voices Key differences and challenges:

Recommendations:

While the majority of schools have some form of Council, to which individuals can be elected, overall there is a lack of financial and practical support available from Town Councils and external agencies to develop, service and engage with youth forums in a formal and meaningful way.

Opportunities to become involved in school, regional and national youth councils should be provided, supported and encouraged in all Douzelage towns. Citizenship courses in schools should provide practical information and advice on how to become involved in local politics and influence the decisions that affect young people.

Limited funding reduces the ability of youth councils to implement change.

Local town Councils should seek to provide small grants and support to young people in order that they can develop their own projects, to establish new activities and/ or improve facilities for example.

Many young people feel disenchanted with local politics and do not feel that they can actively influence local decision-making. Young people feel that consultation processes are a 'box-ticking' exercise, rather than a genuine attempt to gain their views and input.

Town Councillors should make an effort to communicate directly with young people in order to represent their views most effectively.

The minority of disengaged young people, fuelling negative perceptions of the majority, have the loudest voice and the most significant impact on relationships between communities and their younger citizens.

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6.0

Best Practice -Sherborne & UK

Youth Opportunities Fund (to follow)

In England the policy on the provision of support for children and young people rests with Central Government, the Department for Children, Schools and Families The key policies driving this are: 1. Every Child Matters 2. Youth Matters: Something to do, somewhere to go, someone to talk to Under Every Child Matters the Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: • Be healthy • Stay safe • Enjoy and achieve • Make a positive contribution • Achieve economic well-being Organisations involved in providing services to children - from hospitals and schools, to police and voluntary groups - work together, sharing information, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve. The aim is for children and young people to have far more say about issues that affect them as individuals and collectively. For further information see: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk

Rendez-Vous (to follow) Tinneys (to follow)

Under Youth Matters the aim is to give all young people the chance of a positive future by helping them to learn in ways that motivate and stretch them and enable them to achieve; engage in positive developmental activities; make informed choices about their lives and benefit from high-quality, targeted support before problems escalate. The British Government delegates to first-tier Local Authorities like Dorset County Council to implement these policies.

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objectives of the study visit had been met.

7.0 Feedback

Other comments received from delegates following the study visit included:

At the end of the study visit, participants were asked to evaluate their experience and provide both positive and negative feedback to the organising committee. Responses can be grouped under the following headings. Organisation – Generally delegates felt that the study visit had been well-organised. Programme – While some delegates felt that the theme stations, presentations and workshop sessions were very useful, many found that there were too many long presentations and insufficient time to digest and reflect upon the information provided to them. Delegates would also have valued a more structured ice-breaker at the beginning of the visit and more free time to explore the town.

“We really enjoyed every minute of this meeting. Thank you very much.

Social – One of the most frequently mentioned positives, was the group dynamic, the opportunity to make new friends, practise English and exchange ideas.

“Thank s for a g r e at time that I hope will lead to m ore.”

Learning – A number of delegates commented on the usefulness of the ideas and information shared during the study visit and could see ways of applying them and or working together to develop those ideas in future. Conversely, it was not clear to others whether the

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A complete table of positive and negative feedback received is available at www.pdfcoke.com . The Organising Committee have taken on board the various points made and would be happy to share their own learning and experience with other Douzelage towns wishing to host such an event.

“Thank you for making this meeting possible. We will keep the great time we spent here in our minds!” “So many thoughts and experiences, it is impossible to voice our gratitude to the Sherborne Douzelage staff. Thank you.”

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8.0 Conclusions & Recommendations

beyond Douzelage towns.

8.1

To give visiting delegations a broad and enjoyable social experience

Aims and Outcomes

The Organising Committee are confident that the aims of the study visit were fully met:

While the delegates participated in an extremely full programme of presentations and workshop sessions, these were interspersed with social activities including a welcome dinner, a visit to Dorset County Museum, free time in Sherborne, shopping and traditional fish and chips in Lyme Regis, fossil hunting on Charmouth Beach and a Skittles competition.

To organise and host a Study Visit that was within budget while being challenging, informative and enjoyable for all participants The study visit was within budget and feedback received from participants suggests that the three day programme was challenging, informative and enjoyable.

To raise the profile of Sherborne Douzelage within the town and in Dorset

To stretch the capacity of Douzelage to produce work that adds substantial value to the present benefits of membership of the organisation and to demonstrate to local authorities and the EU the growing value of the organisation

The involvement of Dorset County Council, Dorset Constabulary, Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre, the Rendezvous, Sherborne Town Council and the Jurassic Coast Heritage Centre have helped to raise the profile of Douzelage within Sherborne and Dorset. It is hoped that this report will also be circulated widely among UK and European partners to further raise the profile of International Douzelage and the findings of this study visit.

The study visit was the first of its kind for International Douzelage, providing an opportunity to engage new participants and tackling a specialist subject area that gained the support of Dorset County Council. The successful bid to the European Youth in Action Programme proves the quality of the programme, while this final report allows for continued learning and develop within and

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of activities.

8.2

Key Challenges The key challenges identified in providing a similar level of youth provision across Douzelage towns are summarised below: •

Youth provision, support for youth activities and youth involvement varies considerably across Douzelage Towns, as does the definition of a ‘young person’.

•

The majority of funding appears to be for capital purchases. Not enough money is provided to meet revenue costs.

•

Funding encourages a box ticking exercise, focusing on quantity not quality.

•

Irrespective of quantity or quality of youth provision, the cost of participation and poor transport links restricts access for many young people.

•

Youth provision and education services are delivered through a variety of means and to varying degrees, e.g. advice on sexual health. In some towns Schools have limited involvement in service delivery, while others have no secondary school at all.

•

It is accepted that many young people will leave Douzelage Towns to access higher education, employment and other opportunities. However, insufficient attention is paid to those who remain and attracting back those leaving for education.

•

The degree of general and financial support provided by Town Councils and other tiers of Local Government varies considerably between towns.

•

Policies and representations of Douzelage Towns still reflect the expectations, preferences and needs of older residents.

•

There are limited funding options available to support youth activities co-ordinated independently of Local Governments. Existing application processes are very bureaucratic and erratic funding streams limits long-term sustainability

•

The focus on young people overlooks the significant influence of parents and the environment on the ability of young people to participate in society and to access the activities and services designed for them.

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8.3

projects that promote social cohesion.

Positive solutions

The workshop and plenary sessions identified the following positive actions as necessary for delivering quality and mainstream and targeted improvements for young people in Douzelage towns: •

Improved partnership working between key agencies is essential for young peoples’ needs to be identified and appropriately addressed. Clear, simple and shared aims should be established for agencies to deliver services.

•

Young people should be involved in the design, planning and delivery of facilities and activities, increasing their sense of ownership, respect for property and engagement in other areas of local decision-making.

•

Local non-public fundraising and enthusiastic people can be equally successful, if not more so, in providing funds to develop quality youth facilities and activities. This often provides more freedom to deliver services and activities where Local Government support is not forthcoming.

•

•

School Councils, Youth Parliaments and other similar activities, including mock elections, promote democratic involvement of young people and understanding of local decision-making.

• Support for home-working, young entrepreneurs and promotion of local skills should be a priority and will attract new businesses and varied employment opportunities for school-leavers and returning graduates.

Local perceptions of young people as a ‘problem’ must be changed, by encouraging promotion of the positive things young people do, e.g. intergenerational

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